Gameplay when playing

cquinsland · 08-26-2022, 09:00 PM

I love this game, and have played it for the past 6 years. I wish the actual game play would improve if you play the games out.

Players on 2nd are in scoring position, they should score on base hits, unless they are really slow, but it generally doesn't happen. They generally stay at 3rd.

Players on 2nd should also tag and get to third on flyballs to right. Doesn't happen in the game.

Sac bunts are impossible, they always miss and get to 2 strikes, regardless of ability. Once they have 2 strikes, they'll strike out. Waste at bat.

Wild pitches/Passed Balls happen too often in deciding games with runners on. It happens in real life, but not as often and predictably in OOTP. Especially when your pitcher has great control and your catcher has high catching ability.

There are a lot of issues in the game, it's still fun and it's my favorite game, but i'd like to see improvements. These things have been happening the past 4 releases.

Pelican · 08-27-2022, 02:57 PM

This is one of those YMMV posts. I frequently see fast runners score from 2B on a single. I look for hints on how deep the ball is, in order to decide when to send the runner (when given the chance; also frequent). I don’t always rely on the 3D images, since the narrative controls. Of course I look at the arm of the fielder with the ball, just as a third base coach would IRL.

With two outs, I find that the runner is more likely to score from 2B, since he will get a good jump on anything hit, with no worry about being doubled up. I play a fair amount of games, and this happens all the time. I have no real idea if it happens in AI games; but I would think so. It’s the same game engine.

Likewise, runners regularly advance from 2B to 3B on a fly ball to deep RF. Of course, depends on the speed of the runner and the OF arm. They are not going to advance on Johnny Callison or Roberto Clemente, unless they are Maury Wills or Bobby Tolan. Rarely am I given the chance to coach on this play. If that is the first out, I am leaning toward sending, to put the runner in place to score on a SF. If it’s the second out, probably not. No SF potential, but should score from 2B with two outs.

In my experience, the game is also consistent in runners advancing from 1B to 3B on a single. With two outs, much more likely, especially on a ball to RF. Not sure when the algorithm decides to give me as manager the option. I am relatively conservative, with less than two outs, but again, look at the speed of the runner and the arm of the RF.

Of course, for those plays where you don’t get the option to coach, the settings for strategy would influence how aggressive the baserunners are. I like a quick team where I can be aggressive on the base paths, dialing that back on a few slower sluggers.

I couldn’t comment on sacrifice bunts. The sample size would be minuscule, as I just don’t believe in it as a strategy, unless the pitcher is batting. In those rare instances, I look at the batter’s bunting ability, and try to detect if the IF is playing up. For older historical seasons, the pitchers tend to be decent hitters, so rarely if ever do I take the bat out of their hands.

I have not noticed a tendency toward too many passed balls or wild pitches. They tend to correspond to the pitchers with less control, or the catchers with less defensive ability. A known risk, in either case. You can always dial back the league settings, if you think they are too frequent.

Not surprisingly, I would not agree with you that there are “a lot of issues in the game”, if you are suggesting “issues” are flaws or bugs. Again, in my experience, there are a lot of options and choices and adjustments you can make in the game. Sure, there have been a few major and lots of minor “issues” raised, and the development team is responsive in fixing problems and providing guidance.

Again, my own personal experience is that a good number of potential “issues” with the game were either outright user error on my part, or insufficient understanding of settings and protocols in the game that can be changed (or not). In my third year of playing OOTP, I have finally refined my approach and settings, with a good deal of guidance from the community, and I am closer to the experience I want.

mytreds · 08-30-2022, 11:47 AM

It’s also a disconnect between what the in-game play-by-play generates and what the 3D engine generates for each event. It’s why I liked the ol text based, no 3D in older ootp versions- it let your imagination fill in the gaps. Now with 3D getting more involved, you lose that and instead are fooled by a simulator doing it’s best (and I use that term loosely) to recreate real life baseball.

Any follower of baseball will know- literally anything can and will happen in the field. It’s impossible for anyone person to code and predict every single event of a baseball game into a simulator. They do their best, for sure. But don’t expect perfection.

To your point on PB, WP, etc.- It's a trick our minds play with us. We don't notice the times when those outcomes don't happen. But when they do happen, they stick out like sore thumbs, since those outcomes are not what we like, especially if it decides the game somehow. Therefore, we assume we see it all the time, since our mind goes "Aha! It happened again!" as opposed to "Well that hasn't happened since 100 or so pitches ago." Think of it like umpires- they make bad and good calls every game. But it's the bad calls that decide something important which stick in our memory. Jim Joyce has made 1000s of calls, overwhelming more good than bad. Yet its that one bad call he made which will live in people's memories forever, and be used as an argument for robo umpires (similar to how you want the devs to "fix" all these PBs, WPs, etc.). Bill Buckner is known for one single misplay- yet had he made that play, the game would've not ended, it would've gone to extra innings! Still, people focus on the negative outcome, the outcome that "wasn't suppose to happen" and deny the facts of the game.

choward2984 · 09-01-2022, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cquinsland

I love this game, and have played it for the past 6 years. I wish the actual game play would improve if you play the games out.

Players on 2nd are in scoring position, they should score on base hits, unless they are really slow, but it generally doesn't happen. They generally stay at 3rd.

Players on 2nd should also tag and get to third on flyballs to right. Doesn't happen in the game.

Sac bunts are impossible, they always miss and get to 2 strikes, regardless of ability. Once they have 2 strikes, they'll strike out. Waste at bat.

Wild pitches/Passed Balls happen too often in deciding games with runners on. It happens in real life, but not as often and predictably in OOTP. Especially when your pitcher has great control and your catcher has high catching ability.

There are a lot of issues in the game, it's still fun and it's my favorite game, but i'd like to see improvements. These things have been happening the past 4 releases.

The amount of wild pitches is infuriating. Even with a mediocre to bad pitcher, its too much. On more than one occasion, I've had a guy throw 4 consecutive wild pitches.

And the amount of 1-2 counts with predictable strike outs is just crazy. So many opposing pitchers throw complete games and they haven't even reached 80 pitches.

But i also love the game.

GTAltman · 09-03-2022, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choward2984

The amount of wild pitches is infuriating. Even with a mediocre to bad pitcher, its too much. On more than one occasion, I've had a guy throw 4 consecutive wild pitches.

And the amount of 1-2 counts with predictable strike outs is just crazy. So many opposing pitchers throw complete games and they haven't even reached 80 pitches.

But i also love the game.

4 consecutive WP’s?
With what you’re experiencing in your game play, maybe add in playing your state’s lottery to your agenda!

08-26-2022, 09:00 PM	#1
cquinsland Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 8	Gameplay when playing I love this game, and have played it for the past 6 years. I wish the actual game play would improve if you play the games out. Players on 2nd are in scoring position, they should score on base hits, unless they are really slow, but it generally doesn't happen. They generally stay at 3rd. Players on 2nd should also tag and get to third on flyballs to right. Doesn't happen in the game. Sac bunts are impossible, they always miss and get to 2 strikes, regardless of ability. Once they have 2 strikes, they'll strike out. Waste at bat. Wild pitches/Passed Balls happen too often in deciding games with runners on. It happens in real life, but not as often and predictably in OOTP. Especially when your pitcher has great control and your catcher has high catching ability. There are a lot of issues in the game, it's still fun and it's my favorite game, but i'd like to see improvements. These things have been happening the past 4 releases.

08-30-2022, 11:47 AM	#3
mytreds All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 1,184	It’s also a disconnect between what the in-game play-by-play generates and what the 3D engine generates for each event. It’s why I liked the ol text based, no 3D in older ootp versions- it let your imagination fill in the gaps. Now with 3D getting more involved, you lose that and instead are fooled by a simulator doing it’s best (and I use that term loosely) to recreate real life baseball. Any follower of baseball will know- literally anything can and will happen in the field. It’s impossible for anyone person to code and predict every single event of a baseball game into a simulator. They do their best, for sure. But don’t expect perfection. To your point on PB, WP, etc.- It's a trick our minds play with us. We don't notice the times when those outcomes don't happen. But when they do happen, they stick out like sore thumbs, since those outcomes are not what we like, especially if it decides the game somehow. Therefore, we assume we see it all the time, since our mind goes "Aha! It happened again!" as opposed to "Well that hasn't happened since 100 or so pitches ago." Think of it like umpires- they make bad and good calls every game. But it's the bad calls that decide something important which stick in our memory. Jim Joyce has made 1000s of calls, overwhelming more good than bad. Yet its that one bad call he made which will live in people's memories forever, and be used as an argument for robo umpires (similar to how you want the devs to "fix" all these PBs, WPs, etc.). Bill Buckner is known for one single misplay- yet had he made that play, the game would've not ended, it would've gone to extra innings! Still, people focus on the negative outcome, the outcome that "wasn't suppose to happen" and deny the facts of the game. __________________ “Baseball isn’t statistics; it’s Joe DiMaggio rounding second.” “Once, centuries ago, it was the beloved national pastime of the Americas, Wesley. Abandoned by a society that prized fast food and faster games. Lost to impatience.” “ The term ‘WAR’ should be replaced by ‘WAG’. WAR isn’t an actual measurement; it’s just a wild-ass guess” -Bill James RIP National League 1876-2022 Floreat semper vel invita morte. I make custom ballparks. Last edited by mytreds; 08-30-2022 at 12:09 PM.

08-27-2022, 02:57 PM	#2
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 3,264	This is one of those YMMV posts. I frequently see fast runners score from 2B on a single. I look for hints on how deep the ball is, in order to decide when to send the runner (when given the chance; also frequent). I don’t always rely on the 3D images, since the narrative controls. Of course I look at the arm of the fielder with the ball, just as a third base coach would IRL. With two outs, I find that the runner is more likely to score from 2B, since he will get a good jump on anything hit, with no worry about being doubled up. I play a fair amount of games, and this happens all the time. I have no real idea if it happens in AI games; but I would think so. It’s the same game engine. Likewise, runners regularly advance from 2B to 3B on a fly ball to deep RF. Of course, depends on the speed of the runner and the OF arm. They are not going to advance on Johnny Callison or Roberto Clemente, unless they are Maury Wills or Bobby Tolan. Rarely am I given the chance to coach on this play. If that is the first out, I am leaning toward sending, to put the runner in place to score on a SF. If it’s the second out, probably not. No SF potential, but should score from 2B with two outs. In my experience, the game is also consistent in runners advancing from 1B to 3B on a single. With two outs, much more likely, especially on a ball to RF. Not sure when the algorithm decides to give me as manager the option. I am relatively conservative, with less than two outs, but again, look at the speed of the runner and the arm of the RF. Of course, for those plays where you don’t get the option to coach, the settings for strategy would influence how aggressive the baserunners are. I like a quick team where I can be aggressive on the base paths, dialing that back on a few slower sluggers. I couldn’t comment on sacrifice bunts. The sample size would be minuscule, as I just don’t believe in it as a strategy, unless the pitcher is batting. In those rare instances, I look at the batter’s bunting ability, and try to detect if the IF is playing up. For older historical seasons, the pitchers tend to be decent hitters, so rarely if ever do I take the bat out of their hands. I have not noticed a tendency toward too many passed balls or wild pitches. They tend to correspond to the pitchers with less control, or the catchers with less defensive ability. A known risk, in either case. You can always dial back the league settings, if you think they are too frequent. Not surprisingly, I would not agree with you that there are “a lot of issues in the game”, if you are suggesting “issues” are flaws or bugs. Again, in my experience, there are a lot of options and choices and adjustments you can make in the game. Sure, there have been a few major and lots of minor “issues” raised, and the development team is responsive in fixing problems and providing guidance. Again, my own personal experience is that a good number of potential “issues” with the game were either outright user error on my part, or insufficient understanding of settings and protocols in the game that can be changed (or not). In my third year of playing OOTP, I have finally refined my approach and settings, with a good deal of guidance from the community, and I am closer to the experience I want.